【kateee: Aaaaaah is the cat named Wangzai?! Suddenly I get the live room name!】
【Shi Seventeen: What? I thought the host was the one called Wangzai】
【Chubby Cub Goo Goo: The host has a cat and hides it? Expose it!】
【Does Lingling Have a Boyfriend Today: With such a soft big sis, it’s definitely a Ragdoll, right?】
【xiiiyaaya: Show the cat! Show the cat! Show the cat!】
The barrage went wild, strongly demanding that Gu Shengsheng bring the cat out to say hi to everyone.
Gu Shengsheng hadn’t expected a casual joke to cause such a huge reaction. Bring Shen Wang out to greet everyone? The mental image scared her into a shiver. She hurriedly changed the subject: “Now we’re steaming the shrimp dumplings.”
Gu Shengsheng sliced a carrot into rounds to line the steamer basket, then placed the dumplings one by one, covered it, and set it in the steamer. Soon, wisps of steam rose gently.
Her slender waist, tied with a little apron, moved slowly in front of the camera—slower than usual. The barrage immediately asked:
【What’s wrong with the fairy with the buns? Did she twist her waist?】
Gu Shengsheng felt aggrieved the moment she heard. She said slowly: “I fell off the bed. It hurts so much.”
【awsl Is the little fairy acting spoiled?】
【Aaaaaah come into my arms! Blow on it—pain pain fly away!】
【So heartbreaking yet so funny. How old are you to roll off the bed?】
“…Hmph.” Gu Shengsheng turned her head away, suddenly not wanting to pay attention to them anymore.
Beside her, the small clay pot for decocting medicine started bubbling gently. Gu Shengsheng wrapped her hand in a cloth, carefully lifted the lid, and stirred. A clear, slightly bitter herbal aroma wafted up—not unpleasant at all. This was the daily eye-washing medicine for Shen Wang; it had cooling, vision-brightening effects. There were also two herbal packets for his leg soaks and baths.
Dr. Lin had given a long list of instructions: boil seven bowls of water down to one, simmer on low heat, must use purified water… Gu Shengsheng didn’t dare leave it to anyone else—she watched the fire herself.
Watching the small blue flame slowly lick the bottom of the pot, Gu Shengsheng let out a slow sigh. Shen Wang really was hard to take care of.
【Western Fried Chicken Nuggets: Life is hard, fairy is sighing】
【Rice Box: Little fairy, don’t feel bad. They’re the bad ones—I’ll spoil you!】
【Don’t Startle the Birds: No more laughing, no more laughing—don’t feel wronged!】
【Eat Kunpeng or Not: You guys were the ones laughing just now!】
【You were laughing the hardest】
【Here, take all my nutrient solution—don’t cry!】
The viewers thought Gu Shengsheng was truly upset and started spamming gifts and nutrient solution. Gu Shengsheng hadn’t actually been that upset to begin with. She said happily: “I don’t feel like crying anymore.”
The audience in front of their screens clutched their hearts and slowly collapsed. How could she be this cute!
In an instant, the barrage exploded even more, and the nutrient solution leaderboard shot straight up. At the same time, the live room’s viewer count climbed rapidly.
The comments flew by so fast Gu Shengsheng couldn’t even read the screen. While she was puzzling over what “awsl” and “human honey candy” meant, Shen Wang knocked lightly on the table.
Gu Shengsheng turned around. Shen Wang had woken up at some point and was rubbing his temple.
She immediately ignored the barrage, quickly said “Goodbye,” and ended the live stream. She hurried over to Shen Wang, half-squatting in front of him and looking up: “You’re awake?”
Shen Wang said coldly: “You woke me up.”
“I was really quiet—I couldn’t have woken you.” Gu Shengsheng boldly retorted. She picked up the small blanket that had slipped to the floor, patted it clean, and carefully tucked it back over his legs.
Her soft hands patted and smoothed over his knees—such an intimate, caring gesture. Yet Shen Wang grew even more irritated: “With that sugary, whiny voice of yours, it’s hard not to wake up.”
“How am I being sugary?!” Gu Shengsheng puffed out her cheeks. Then a thought struck her. She grabbed Shen Wang’s sleeve and shook it in a milky, childish voice: “Shengsheng isn’t sugary at all~ This is just my normal way of talking~”
Shen Wang’s entire body stiffened instantly. His eyebrow twitched. It took him a long moment to keep a straight face before he asked seriously: “Are you itching for a beating?”
“…The shrimp dumplings are ready! I’ll go get them for you!” Gu Shengsheng snapped back to normal in a second and scampered off with quick little steps.
Today’s shrimp dumplings turned out beautifully. Thin wrappers, generous filling—each one plump and shiny. Through the translucent skin, you could faintly see the reddish shrimp inside. One gentle bite broke the soft yet chewy wrapper, releasing a burst of fresh, slightly sweet juice that filled the mouth. The shrimp meat was deliciously bouncy, practically dancing on the tongue.
Gu Shengsheng looked very pleased with herself and kept piling shrimp dumplings onto Shen Wang’s plate.
But Shen Wang ate absentmindedly, chewing slowly. He didn’t even notice when Gu Shengsheng placed more dumplings in his dish.
Gu Shengsheng grabbed his wrist and shook it gently. “Shen Wang, Shen Wang, what are you spacing out for?”
“Don’t touch me randomly!” Shen Wang pulled his hand back.
“Oh.” Gu Shengsheng drooped her head and went quiet.
Shen Wang suddenly said: “We’re watching a movie tonight.”
Gu Shengsheng blinked blankly. “What?”
“Didn’t you keep nagging about wanting to watch a movie? There’s a projector in the room. I’ll let you watch tonight.” Shen Wang’s tone grew impatient halfway through. “If you don’t want to, forget it!”
Gu Shengsheng cheered: “I want to! I want to watch! Shen Wang, you’re the best!”
Shen Wang turned his face away. “Being sugary again.”
“I’m not.”
“No more talking like that during your next live stream.”
“…”
“Gone mute?”
“Didn’t you just tell me not to talk?”
“…You can talk now.”
“Then am I only allowed to talk to you and not to the barrage? If I do that, the viewers won’t like me anymore, and they won’t send me gifts.”
“What gifts?”
Gu Shengsheng placed the two ugliest dumplings into Shen Wang’s plate. “Mercedes, fireworks, nutrient solution.”
Shen Wang’s chopsticks paused. He suddenly “looked” toward Gu Shengsheng. “They’re sending you Mercedes? What are their intentions?!”
Gu Shengsheng said matter-of-factly: “Because they like me.”
Shen Wang gave a cold snort. “Mercedes? Nothing special. There are plenty of cars in the garage. If you want one, go pick it.”
Shen Wang’s small plate was already piled high with dumplings. Gu Shengsheng reached over with her chopsticks, scooped out the filling, and left only the empty wrapper shells. “They’re fake Mercedes—fifty bucks each. Ugh, you’re so dumb.”
“…What kind of nonsense is that.”
Explaining was exhausting. Gu Shengsheng sighed. She pulled out her phone, cleared her throat, and seriously gave Shen Wang a rundown of the different virtual gifts and their prices.
In the end, she added with restrained pride: “A big spender once sent me two hundred fireworks. That’s twenty thousand! If you promise never to pinch my face again, I’ll buy you gifts too.”
Shen Wang’s response was a menacing laugh. He pinched her soft cheek: “Having fun eating? Where’s the dumpling filling? Hm?”
“Wuwuwu… you said you weren’t eating… It hurts, it hurts! Fine, I’ll give it back!”
Gu Shengsheng’s face was red from the pinch, tears brimming as she dug out the shrimp filling for him. Shen Wang ate without ceremony—one bite after another, devouring them quickly. Good thing Gu Shengsheng had made plenty; she had to steam two more baskets to satisfy him.
Gu Shengsheng was so full from just eating the wrappers that her eyes were glazing over. Shen Wang, meanwhile, looked completely unaffected—except for the hand he secretly pressed against his stomach.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. They sat quietly in the kitchen, basking in the lingering warmth of the setting sun. Outside, leaves rustled softly, and the evening breeze carried a gentle, sweet fragrance.
Gu Shengsheng couldn’t help asking: “What flowers are planted outside?”
Shen Wang answered lazily: “Roses.”
Gu Shengsheng looked out, but the courtyard wall blocked her view. “Not the roses in the yard. It’s coming from outside the wall.”
“Outside?” Shen Wang leaned back in his chair, replying carelessly: “Flame trees.”
Gu Shengsheng had never seen flame trees. Before she could ask what they looked like, the herbal medicine finished brewing.
Gu Shengsheng wrapped a cloth around the clay pot handle and carefully poured the dark brown liquid into a basin. It gave off a cool, bitter herbal scent.
When the medicine had cooled to just slightly hot, Gu Shengsheng soaked a gauze pad in it and gently wiped Shen Wang’s eyes. “It might sting a little. Keep your eyes closed tight, okay?”
Shen Wang tilted his head back, resting it on Gu Shengsheng’s lap. Every breath she took, every small movement, transmitted clearly to him. The bitter medicine mixed with the faint sweet rose fragrance. The heat on his eyelids and her soft breathing—neither was easy to endure.
Shen Wang said gruffly: “It doesn’t hurt. Hurry up.”
Gu Shengsheng saw the tension between his brows and moved even more carefully. “Dr. Lin said it hurts a lot at first. You don’t have to tough it out…”
“You don’t want to watch the movie anymore?”
“I do!” Gu Shengsheng perked up instantly and sped up.
After thoroughly cleaning his eyes, she dried them with a clean towel. Looking closely, Shen Wang’s beautiful phoenix eyes remained closed—exactly the same as before.
She waved her fingers in front of his face.
Shen Wang’s lashes fluttered. Suddenly he caught her finger.
Gu Shengsheng forgot the pain and cried out in delight: “Wow! You can see?!”
“…Your fingers smell like medicine.” Shen Wang let go and let out an almost gentle sigh.
Gu Shengsheng had no idea Shen Wang had just downgraded her intelligence rating again in his mind.
She was too excited about the movie. She quickly tidied Shen Wang up, then went to take a shower herself and prepared several plates of snacks and tea.
Xi Xue’er had told her: movie watching required popcorn and cola. Gu Shengsheng had been so envious she’d nagged Shen Wang about it multiple times. Today she finally got her chance.
The bedroom curtains were drawn tight—pitch black. Only the projector’s light clearly illuminated the wall.
Gu Shengsheng originally wanted to watch Era X—the one Xi Xue’er had strongly recommended—but the moment she suggested it, Shen Wang shut it down hard. She had no choice but to sit on the floor feeling wronged, searching for “Top 100 Classic Movies.” The endless titles and posters made her eyes spin. The original owner had only liked Korean dramas and idol shows, so Gu Shengsheng knew almost nothing about movies from this era.
Suddenly she spotted an antique-looking cover: a scholar and a beauty. The beauty looked ethereal and pitifully delicate. Gu Shengsheng perked up immediately. “This one looks good! Let’s watch this!”
Shen Wang had no objections.
Gu Shengsheng hit play, then scampered back to the bed, burrowed under the covers next to Shen Wang, and patted her chest. “It’s so dark… kinda scary. Wow, it’s starting!”
The movie opened with a familiar, ethereal piece of music.
Shen Wang: “…You really want to watch this one?”
“Yeah! The costumes in this movie are so pretty.” Gu Shengsheng stared eagerly at the screen.
A strange look flickered across Shen Wang’s lips, but the old movie’s soundtrack was gentle and soothing. With his eyes closed, listening to it actually calmed his mind.
Then Gu Shengsheng’s little mouth started chattering:
“This scholar is so handsome! He’s definitely going to top the imperial exam! What’s his name? I’m going to stan him!”
“Why isn’t this girl scared going out at midnight? Her clothes are gorgeous, but her hair is so weird—like Mickey Mouse.”
“They… what are they doing?”
“Aaahhhh! The female ghost is eating people! Aaaaaahhhhhh!”
On the screen, shadowy figures moved in a sensual tangle behind the folding screen. Gu Shengsheng had been blushing at the sight—until suddenly blood sprayed everywhere. A female ghost clutched what looked like a human leg and tore into it, blood dripping messily.
Gu Shengsheng caught the full horror. The plate of meringue candies in her hand flew up as she screamed and dove straight into Shen Wang’s arms.
Shen Wang: “…”